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As I have been delving deeper into the meanings of topics I took for granted before, I started wondering what constitutes idle talk. Is it pleasantries, break room talk, asking lame questions because you are either bored or shy or could it be talking via social networking sites? It is warned against by the Orthodox church so we need to know for sure.What are your thoughts?

As I have been delving deeper into the meanings of topics I took for granted before, I started wondering what constitutes idle talk. Is it pleasantries, break room talk, asking lame questions because you are either bored or shy or could it be talking via social networking sites? It is warned against by the Orthodox church so we need to know for sure.What are your thoughts?

Excellent question! I'll be interested to see what others think.Personally, I think the Church's warning against idle talk is a reminder of Our Lord's warning that on the Day of Judgement, we will be held accountable for everything we have said, including every "idle word" (Matthew 12:36). An "idle word" (Gk: "ρημα αργον") seems to mean either a "lazy" word (i.e. one which achieves nothing good), or it could mean a word "spoken in idleness"- the image being of reclining in idleness and chatting. Whatever the case, it seems to indicate that we are supposed to be careful that what we say always achieves good and edifies, and that we should speak with the constant thought that we will be held accountable for what we say. So we need to "weigh" and "measure" our words before we speak them.I don't think this necessarily includes things like exchanging pleasantries. Wishing someone a good morning can be a blessing if it comes from the heart and is spoken in love. Nor do I think it includes social networking sites altogether, but it does include what we say on them. It is just as possible to say something edifying on Facebook as it is to spread gossip on it.

« Last Edit: February 21, 2011, 06:46:12 PM by ozgeorge »

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If you're living a happy life as a Christian, you're doing something wrong.

What is this prohibition on idle talk we are talking about? I've never heard of it.

Matt 12:36-37But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

What is this prohibition on idle talk we are talking about? I've never heard of it.

Matt 12:36-37But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

What is this prohibition on idle talk we are talking about? I've never heard of it.

Matt 12:36-37But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Seriously, this is one of those many lines of Scripture that scares me.

What is this prohibition on idle talk we are talking about? I've never heard of it.

Matt 12:36-37But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Easy for an introvert to say . . .

So do I get a pass on the BS that I type?

One can be just as responsible for being silent when in a situatino where they should speak.

There's a Coptic priest in Queens who does not allow anyone to speak (within reason) when standing before the altar even if no liturgy is being done. It's extremely strict, but I admire it. There's a holiness to be maintained standing before the altar. We must stand in awe, respecting the presence of God before us. When one can imagine such presence, one then knows the proper professionalism that needs to be maintained.

« Last Edit: February 22, 2011, 12:55:29 AM by minasoliman »

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Vain existence can never exist, for "unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain." (Psalm 127)

If the faith is unchanged and rock solid, then the gates of Hades never prevailed in the end.

That it's better to be silent is all over the Sayings of the Desert Fathers.

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Abba Ammoes

It was said of Abba Ammoes that when he went to church, he did not allow his disciple to walk beside him but only at a certain distance; and if the latter came to ask him about his thoughts, he would move away from him as soon as he had replied, saying to him, 'It is for fear that, after edifying words, irrelevant conversation should slip in, that I do not keep you with me.'

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Abba Isaiah

(Abba Isaiah) also said that when there was an agape and the brethren were eating in the church and talking to one another, the priest of Pelusia reprimanded them in these words, 'Brethren, be quiet. For I have seen a brother eating with you and drinking as many cups as you and his prayer is ascending to the presence of God like fire.'

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Abba James

He also said, 'We do not need words only, for, at the present time, there are many words among men, but we need works, for this is what is required, not words which do not bear fruit.'

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Abba Pambo

The same Abba Theophilus, the archbishop, came to Scetis one day. The brethren who were assembled said to Abba Pambo, 'Say something to the Archbishop, so that he may be edified.' The old man said to them, 'If he is not edified by my silence, he will not be edified by my speech.'

A man may seem to be silent, but if his heart is condemning others, he is babbling ceaselessly. But there may be another who talks from morning till night and yet he is truly silent, that is, he says nothing that is not profitable.

I agree that there is too much mindless babble all over the world today (how much on twitter and facebook could be classified as this?) We as Christians should learn to measure our speech so that people can respect and appreciate what comes out of our mouths (or fingers), as we are representatives of the Most High.

That it's better to be silent is all over the Sayings of the Desert Fathers.

Quote

Abba Ammoes

It was said of Abba Ammoes that when he went to church, he did not allow his disciple to walk beside him but only at a certain distance; and if the latter came to ask him about his thoughts, he would move away from him as soon as he had replied, saying to him, 'It is for fear that, after edifying words, irrelevant conversation should slip in, that I do not keep you with me.'

Quote

Abba Isaiah

(Abba Isaiah) also said that when there was an agape and the brethren were eating in the church and talking to one another, the priest of Pelusia reprimanded them in these words, 'Brethren, be quiet. For I have seen a brother eating with you and drinking as many cups as you and his prayer is ascending to the presence of God like fire.'

Quote

Abba James

He also said, 'We do not need words only, for, at the present time, there are many words among men, but we need works, for this is what is required, not words which do not bear fruit.'

Quote

Abba Pambo

The same Abba Theophilus, the archbishop, came to Scetis one day. The brethren who were assembled said to Abba Pambo, 'Say something to the Archbishop, so that he may be edified.' The old man said to them, 'If he is not edified by my silence, he will not be edified by my speech.'

A man may seem to be silent, but if his heart is condemning others, he is babbling ceaselessly. But there may be another who talks from morning till night and yet he is truly silent, that is, he says nothing that is not profitable.

Wonderful examples.

For example of idle chatter, check out my blather in the chat room or anywhere else I am.

For example of idle chatter, check out my blather in the chat room or anywhere else I am.

I just started working third shift. Now that my body's schedule is thrown off, you should hear some of things I say when my body is still physically operating but my mind stops properly functioning after being up past a certain time.

I tink we should interpret thisas a call against such things as gossip and slander of our fellow man and not necessarily a call to complete silence when not speaking of religious or matters of "absolute necessity".

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Men may dislike truth, men may find truth offensive and inconvenient, men may persecute the truth, subvert it, try by law to suppress it. But to maintain that men have the final power over truth is blasphemy, and the last delusion. Truth lives forever, men do not.-- Gustave Flaubert